<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 9
[LOGO]
HARTFORD LIFE
October 9, 2000 Lynda Godkin, Senior Vice
President, General Counsel
& Corporate Secretary
Board of Directors
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06089
RE: HARTFORD LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
SEPARATE ACCOUNT THREE
FILE NO. 333-34998
Dear Sir/Madam:
I have acted as General Counsel to Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance
Company (the "Company"), a Connecticut insurance company, and Hartford Life and
Annuity Insurance Company Separate Account Three (the "Account") in connection
with the registration of an indefinite amount of securities in the form of
variable annuity contracts (the "Contracts") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. I have examined such
documents (including the Form N-4 Registration Statement) and reviewed such
questions of law as I considered necessary and appropriate, and on the basis of
such examination and review, it is my opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing as a stock
life insurance company under the laws of the State of Connecticut and is
duly authorized by the Insurance Department of the State of Connecticut to
issue the Contracts.
2. The Account is a duly authorized and validly existing separate account
established pursuant to the provisions of Section 38a-433 of the
Connecticut Statutes.
3. To the extent so provided under the Contracts, that portion of the assets
of the Account equal to the reserves and other contract liabilities with
respect to the Account will not be chargeable with liabilities arising out
of any other business that the Company may conduct.
4. The Contracts, when issued as contemplated by the Form N-4 Registration
Statement, will constitute legal, validly issued and binding obligations of
the Company.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form N-4
Registration Statement for the Contracts and the Account.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lynda Godkin
Lynda Godkin
